Why we’re providing this:
Over the years, from around the globe, we have received numerous information requests for low-cost autism assessments. Additionally, we have heard from many women, gender non-conforming, and non-binary/genderqueer/trans people of the barrier of finding an assessor who is trained in gender presentation differences in autism. We have unfortunately also heard about the discrimination individuals have faced because of ageism, systemic racism, homophobia, xenophobia, being houseless, and an overall misunderstanding of Autistic and Neurodivergent adults.
Our aim is to remove these upsetting experiences, create a neurodivergent-affirming autism assessment process, and ultimately improve the quality of life of those assessed. So, after input from Autistic individuals, we are delighted to collaborate with qualified and trained Autistic and Neurodivergent providers to offer affordable, respectful autism diagnostics nationally and internationally through secure tele-health sessions.
How the process works:
To ensure the process is considerate and neuro-positive, the assessment takes places virtually and is broken into multiple sessions, over a 3-6 week period. All packages include a psycho-social interview, in-session and independent neuropsychological testing. During your first session the provider will go over in detail what to expect during the process and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Breaks are offered during the sessions with the aim of making the process more comfortable. Each session is expected to last 90 minutes. If a question arises after or between sessions, providers will respond via email as soon as possible. Upon completion, the provider will discuss the test findings and resulting diagnoses.
The cost for the process is broken into two payments with half due during scheduling and the remainder due after your first session. A non-refundable, tax deductible deposit donation is required to hold your assessment spot. While we are no longer offering financial assistance, we have created the $650 package as an alternate affordable option. To learn more about the packages, please visit the FAQs section.
Associated Research:
In addition to this program, we also launched a corresponding Autism Assessment Satisfaction Questionnaire, to formally research the assessment experiences of Autistic adults and how it affected their quality of life. The purpose of this questionnaire is to ask for Autistic adults’ opinions about their personal experiences with non-partnered GRASP providers, the assessment process and questions.
The goal is to utilize their insights to build a better, neuro-affirming autism assessment process and to provide training to clinicians that is informed by these experiences. To participate in the survey please click on the title above or here, https://forms.gle/QrDfhSfX3Muw9iEt6
Furthermore, we are conducting coinciding research with the Autistic adults who go through GRASP’s Autism Assessments. We are requesting, but not requiring, those who participate in GRASP’s autism assessments to complete an exit questionnaire. Our goal is to continue to hone the process and provide better insights for our future trainings of autism assessment providers and clinicians.
The next steps:
- If you haven’t already, please review and pick a package, https://grasp.org/assessment-services/
- Read through all the frequently asked questions (FAQs), to make sure you understand the process and our policies. If you have questions or concerns, please email us before requesting an assessment.
- When you’re ready, please reach out to us via assessments@grasp-llc.com utilizing the template on our contact us page to let us know which package you’re interested in pursuing and we will reply with the pre-assessment.
- Please be sure to add assessments@grasp-llc.com to your email addresses to ensure you receive our response.
If you need accessibility support with any of these steps, please reach out to us through our contact page or email us at info@grasp.org.
Have questions or concerns?
Please look through these frequently asked questions and if you haven’t found your answer(s), reach out to us at info@grasp.org. Please allow us to address any questions, concerns, or financial assistance requests before completing the next step.
What is required for financial assistance?
Can I contact you on behalf of another adult (18+) who is Autistic and needs an autism assessment?
Can I use my health insurance?
Are there additional fees?
Is this an official diagnosis and what is included in each package?
What is your HIPAA, HITECH, and Omnibus policies?
Does anyone else know about or can access my diagnosis?
Can this diagnosis be used in the United States or Canada for social security disability, state or province based services?
Can this diagnosis be used in the United States or Canada for workplace or school accommodations?
Can this diagnosis be used in other countries to access services and resources?
Who makes up your assessment team?
Do I have to participate in the research studies GRASP is conducting?
How will the assessment sessions go and will my family members/former caregiver(s) need to be involved?
Are deposits to hold my session spot refundable?
What ages do you assess?
What if I need to reschedule my session?
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is required for financial assistance?
*We are no longer accepting financial assistance applications for the foreseeable future as we schedule those waiting on the waitlist.*
In most instances proof of any income as shown through your most recent tax return, bank statements, and if receive social security disability, unemployment, or EBT/SNAP then we will need a letter of determination or proof of payments (bank statements or paystubs are acceptable). Additionally, if you have significant savings that may also be used to factor into our decision. If you do not file taxes or are ineligible for state or federal support services, then we can discuss using a letter from a friend or a relative explaining your financial situation.
If you are requesting financial assistance from another country, not including Canada, then we can discuss different ways to show your financial assistance eligibility. While we use secure email servers, we suggest everyone censor sensitive information like you social security/insurance number, bank account numbers, and your birthday.
We determine financial assistance eligibility based on the poverty level in your state/province and your personal circumstances, which may not be reflected in your financial documents. The total amount one pays can only be determined on a case-by-case basis. We make every effort to identify an amount that you feel comfortable paying, however, the minimum cost for an assessment is $275 for 2023 and will go up to $330 for 2024. We are only able to offer two to three no-cost assessments per year on a case-by-case basis with extenuating circumstances.
As of right now, our waitlist for financial assistance is approximately 5 years long. While we are working to shorten the wait time, unless we receive a sizable donation to assist with these services, the wait will continue to be long as need is high. If you are interested in being assessed and can afford to pay, then we suggest trying to save and make the payments to be seen sooner.
Can I contact you on behalf of another adult (18+) who is Autistic and needs an autism assessment?
We are firm believers in the rights of Autistic and Neurodivergent adults to express self-determination and, when needed, utilize supported decision making. If you are offering assistance to: your child who is age 18+, a spouse/significant other, a relative, or a friend, please be sure you have their consent to contact us on their behalf.
They will need to participate in a preliminary email exchange before accessing services, so please be sure to cc them on all emails to us. If they are not cc’ed, then a phone or Zoom call (without your presence) may be required to ensure they are consenting to this service. If they do not consent to participate, then we will deny your request for an assessment.
Can I use my health insurance?
We are not currently accepting health insurance, and while you may use health savings account (HSA) funds we are unable to process that donation payment. If you choose to use HSA funds, we suggest getting a letter of need from your primary care doctor to document the use of the funds.
Are there additional fees?
We strive to be as upfront and transparent with our amounts as possible. The costs of additional testing, beyond the usual testing for a package, are listed below. If additional tests or paperwork requests (ie: HR form completion) then an extra cost will be added on.
During assessment:
ADHD testing, $175
OCD, $175
PTSD, $300
At end of process/after report is received:
School, workplace, or HR accommodation forms, $50 each form for $1200/$1250 package; $100 each form for $600/650 package
In the future, the following fees apply:
-Future requests for school, workplace accommodation, or HR letters or forms, $75 each form
-Rushed requests (within 2 days) for future school, workplace accommodation, or HR letters or forms, $250 each form
-Hard copies of report, $25/report (includes ground shipping costs)
-Family coaching session, $150/h
-Workplace coaching session, $150/h
Is this an official diagnosis and what is included in each package?
$600: Yes, this is an official diagnosis. This package includes a full neuropsychological assessment, which includes an interview and testing session, including IQ. With additional self-paced neuropsychological testing and a follow-up discussion.
Upon completion and diagnosis, our assessment team provides a letter indicating the diagnosis. Additional letters for workplace/school accommodations and for healthcare providers are also included.
Before scheduling your session, we will ask you to go through a free online pre-assessment screening process to make sure we are the best fit for your needs. Once scheduled, a $300 deposit is due at the time of scheduling to hold one’s spot.
*Please note, the rate for this assessment package is raising to $650 ($325) for sessions scheduled in 2024.*
$1200: Yes, this is an official diagnosis. This package includes a neuropsychological assessment and full report with detailed information about the testing and outcomes. This process includes three sessions with an interview, an additional testing session, including IQ, and self-paced neuropsychological testing for autism and ADHD or OCD.
Upon completion and diagnosis, a full report with a workplace/school accommodation letter, healthcare provider letter, and next step suggestions are provided in the final session. Before scheduling your session, we will ask you to go through a free online pre-assessment screening process to make sure we are the best fit for your needs. Once scheduled, a $600 deposit is due at the time of scheduling to hold one’s spot.
*Please note, the rate for this assessment package is raising to $1275 ($637.50) for sessions scheduled in 2024.*
$1800: Yes, this is an official diagnosis. This package includes a neuropsychological assessment, with an IQ test, and full report with detailed information about the testing and outcomes, along with a coaching tailored to information from the assessment and report. The process also includes testing for ADHD, OCD, and PTSD.
Upon completion and diagnosis, a full report with a workplace/school accommodation letter, healthcare provider letter, and next step suggestions are provided in the final session. Before scheduling your session, we will ask you to go through a free online pre-assessment screening process to make sure we are the best fit for your needs. Once scheduled, a $900 deposit is due at the time of scheduling to hold one’s spot.
*Please note, the rate for this assessment package is raising to $1950 ($975 deposit) for sessions scheduled in 2024.*
What is your HIPAA, HITECH, and Omnibus policies?
We make every effort to keep your contact, medical, and diagnosis information confidential and private by using secure email and information servers, limiting the number of people who access the information and by using multi-factored identification log-ins. We will not share your contact, medical, and diagnosis information without your written and, if applicable, verbal permission. If we do have a security breach or incident we will notify you as soon as possible. If you would like your digital information removed once your assessment is completed, please send us an email making the request. We delete all of your digital information, except for contact information, one year after your assessment. We retain a secure paper copy of your assessment file unless you indicate otherwise.
Does anyone else know about or can access my diagnosis?
You are in control of disclosing your diagnosis. We will never disclose your diagnosis without written and verbal confirmation from you that you want your diagnosis shared. No outside doctors, insurance companies, agencies, organizations, or people will know you are diagnosed unless you decide to share it with them.
Can this diagnosis be used in the United States or Canada for social security disability, state or province based services?
For federal disability and state disability services, most states or provinces require a psychologist licensed in one’s state to conduct an assessment and provide a report. We recognize the cost of community-based autism assessments are only sometimes covered by health insurance and therefore carry a high out-of-pocket expense. We are working to expand our network of providers to be able to offer this. At this time, we recommend finding someone in your state, province, or country, and would be happy to assist in locating one.
Can this diagnosis be used in the United States or Canada for workplace or school accommodations?
For workplace accommodations, this assessment and letter are standard. However, we highly suggest reaching out to one’s Human Resources department for the specifics of what they require. For school accommodations, we highly suggest reaching out to the school’s Disability Office and asking what the requirements are for accommodations. As always, feel free to contact us to discuss your specific needs. We make every effort to follow letter and report guidelines for workplace and school accommodations, however, we do not guarantee that this letter and/or report may be appropriate in every circumstance.
Can this diagnosis be used in other countries to access services and resources?
It greatly depends on your country’s disability resources and requirements for accessing services. Contact us to discuss your location and specific needs, and we will help search for information in your country.
Who makes up your assessment team?
Our Autistic and Neurodivergent assessment team is nationally based in the United States and is made up of a medical doctor, a licensed educational psychologist, a licensed school psychologist, psychological associates, and certified research psychologists.
Do I have to participate in the research studies GRASP is conducting?
No, participation is completely voluntary. However, do know, we are compensating people for their time and are grateful for your support.
How will the assessment sessions go and will my family members/former caregiver(s) need to be involved?
You will need a laptop, desktop computer, or mobile phone with a secure internet connection in a quiet space. We will meet over Zoom, which is a secure and HIPAA compliant platform. Zoom is free to use and utilizes video and audio. Your webcam and microphone will need to be enabled for the sessions, however, non-speaking or unreliably speaking clients may communicate by solely typing, using AAC, or the whichever is best.
Most sessions with the assessment provider last 90 minutes, though the time may vary between 70-120 minutes. Once begun, the assessment sessions are generally scheduled two weeks apart at the same day and time, unless a holiday interferes with scheduling. The process is completed within 3-7 weeks, with one receiving their letter or report at the end.
Per family or caregiver involvement, we designed the pre-assessment and assessment process to rely on self-report. In rare occasions when one doesn’t have access to school or medical records, is unable to recall stories from their youth (as it relates to autism), or does not know if they had developmental differences, the provider may ask if you have a family member or caregiver who can provide additional information.
Are deposits to hold my session spot refundable?
Deposits are non-refundable, tax deductible donations (tax donation letters are provided) and are required as these session spots are in high demand. Deposits are due at the time of scheduling. If we do not hear from you, after 48 hours, then we reserve the right to cancel your session with no contact from you. If you contact us within 48 hours of scheduling and indicate that you’re unable to provide the deposit, we will work with you to the best of our abilities, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to hold your spot.
What ages do you assess?
Usually ages 18 years and older. At this time, we are not offering assessments to minors.
What if I need to reschedule my session?
If for some reason you are unable to keep your scheduled session time, we will make every attempt to reschedule it at a time which works for you and the assessment provider. If you do not attend your scheduled session without contacting us, your deposit will be forfeit, however, you may request a tax donation letter acknowledging your contribution.